Prospecting, Government definitions Options

[CP]

For those of you wondering exactly what "prospecting" would be defined as..............

Here is Colorado state gov's definition.

34-32-117 (2).
(12) "Prospecting" means the act of searching for or investigating a mineral deposit.
"Prospecting" includes, but is not limited to, sinking shafts, tunneling, drilling core and bore
holes and digging pits or cuts and other works for the purpose of extracting samples prior
to commencement of development or extraction operations, and the building of roads, access
ways, and other facilities related to such work. The term does not include those activities
which cause no or very little surface disturbance, such as airborne surveys and photographs,
use of instruments or devices which are hand carried or otherwise transported over the
surface to make magnetic, radioactive, or other tests and measurements, boundary or claim
surveying, location work, or other work which causes no greater land disturbance than is
caused by ordinary lawful use of the land by persons not prospecting. The term also does
not include any single activity which results in the disturbance of a single block of land
totaling one thousand six hundred square feet or less of the land's surface, not to exceed two such disturbances per acre; except that the cumulative total of such disturbances will not
exceed five acres statewide in any prospecting operation extending over twenty-four
consecutive months.

CP

This post has been edited by ColoradoProspector: Jan 4 2007, 05:41 PM

[johnnybravo300]

The fast answers.....
You can't file a claim on protected wilderness lands after Dec31 1983, all that means.
Casual use is a definition used by blm and defined by law having to do with land disturbance I believe. It might be considered casual use to dig at clear creek, cache creek, fairplay public area, point Barr, wilderness areas? or any open space or public access. Special limited rules can apply. Usually these places are withdrawn to new claims.
Heck even on your own claim it may be considered casual use if you aren't making a mess? I don't know why that would need a name? Hehe

The amount and level of surface damage and eco impact you are causing is up to you to consider as a professional and responsible miner. Every mining situation is different. There are documents and applications and legal channels to follow in that case and blm will be more involved with the claim holder.

I am in no way a lawyer haha. Some of this may be my interpretation.